Ted Belman

Hamas and Fatah will continue to enjoy their new status and the continuation of the aid flow. Both will not disarm.““At this point, it appears that President Abbas has formed an interim technocratic government that does not include ministers affiliated with Hamas,”

“Based on what we know now, we intend to work with this government, but will be watching closely to ensure that it upholds principles that President Abbas reiterated today.”

“It does (mean the aid will flow), but we will continue to evaluate the composition and policies of the new government and calibrate our approach accordingly.”

The slick use of the word “technocrat” was probably dreamed up by the State Department and communicated to Abbas for use in describing the new government, so that the US could ignore the law and reality and “work with “ the new government.

The law is quite clear on the matter. The U.S. aid may not benefit Hamas “or any entity effectively controlled by Hamas, any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member, or that results from an agreement with Hamas and over which Hamas exercises undue influence.”

Whether or not the Ministers are described as "technocrats" is irrelevant to the law. There is no question but that Hamas is pulling the strings of these "technocrats" and that the aid should be denied. Once again Abbas can do whatever he likes and the US will still find a way to work with him.

Israel’s response to the new government and the US’s willingness to work with it, is full of sound and fury but signifies nothing.

Israel did nothing about the application of the PA for admittance to 15 groups in the UN even though this was a violation of the Oslo Accords.

Israel did nothing about the reconciliation agreement other than refer the question of our response to a Ministerial committee. And Livni is still able to meet with Abbas subject to Netanyahu’s permission.

Israel still accepts Fatah as a negotiating party knowing that its charter calls for Israel’s destruction just as Hamas’ does and that Hamas and Fatah both support the resistance and glorify terror. Although the PA has agreed to recognize Israel, reject violence and abide by all agreements, in practice it has not rejected violence, not complied with all agreements and refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

This same commitment is being asked of the new government but not directly of Hamas. Of what value is it if the agreement isn’t enforced? Terror will continue, illegal construction in Area C will continue and recognition of Israel will be postponed to a time when an agreement is negotiated which will be never.

In the meantime Hamas and Fatah will continue to enjoy their new status and the continuation of the aid flow. Both will not disarm.

PM Netanyahu recently acknowledged that President Obama demanded that Israel stop building east of the Green Line and demanded that Israel even stop the planning process for future construction.

Obviously the reason Obama and Kerry blamed the breakdown of talks on Israel’s settlement plans was to justify these demands and threats.

Five years ago Obama forced Israel to agree to such a freeze for 10 months in the hope of getting negotiations started. Then a year ago, Netanyahu rejected an upfront freeze and then a freeze as part of the terms of starting negotiations and opted for a controversial release of 104 murders. Those negotiations went nowhere and were ended by the PA. Now we're back to demands for a freeze of unlimited duration, if Obama has his way, even before negotiations start and with no starting date in sight.

If negotiations do start, they will be futile. Even without Hamas in the government, there was no chance of an agreement because the goal of the PA is not achieve a Palestinian State but to eradicate the Jewish state.